LOS ANGELES, Dec 12: Juan Antonio Bayona has signed up to direct the ‘World War Z’ sequel, which will see Brad Pitt reprise his role as Gerry Lane.
‘The Impossible’ director is set to oversee the zombie thriller follow-up for Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions, according to Deadline.
Bayona has officially signed on to replace Marc Forster, who helmed this year’s summer blockbuster that was plagued by numerous production issues but eventually went on to become a critical and box office success.
The new director will need to ensure the sequel is cost effective as the first film required costly reshoots and the entire third act of the film was scrapped.
‘World War Z’ starred Pitt as United Nations staffer Gerry Lane, who is tasked with finding the source of a zombie outbreak that threatens to wipe out the entire world.
The movie is based on Max Brooks’ book ‘World War Z’. Bayona is best known for his 2012 film about the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, ‘The Impossible’, which earned Naomi Watts a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars. (AGENCIES)